The Davos-Trump Collision: Power and Politics Overshadow an Elite Summit

A Political Upheaval

The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, has traditionally drawn business titans eager for recognition. However, this year, the inauguration of Donald Trump is casting a long shadow over the event.

On January 20th, the day of Trump's swearing-in, Davos will commence, and prominent figures such as Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI's Sam Altman, and Uber's Dara Khosrowshahi will instead be in Washington, DC to witness Trump's inauguration.

Sources close to the administration reveal that these actions demonstrate that political events and Trump's policies are deemed far more consequential to American businesses and leaders than anything happening in the Swiss Alps.

Davos vs. DC

"It's unfortunate timing for Davos," lamented one source. "CEOs would rather network in Washington, where they can influence US policy directly." A venture capitalist working on Trump's tech policy told NYNext, "For the first time in years, I don't know anyone going to Davos."

Despite attracting influential figures from around the world to discuss global issues, Davos has faced criticism for being elitist and detached from tangible action.

"Davos is a money-grab for the elite," remarked Jason Calacanis, angel investor and co-host of the All-In podcast. "Real entrepreneurs don't waste time on such superficial distractions."

Silicon Valley's Embrace

CEOs, however, are prioritizing time with Trump, believing it will benefit their enterprises.

Tech billionaires, including Zuckerberg, are donating to Trump's inaugural fund and attending his inauguration. Since his election, CEOs have been vying for his favor, including Apple's Tim Cook, Microsoft's Satya Nadella, and Google's Sundar Pichai, who have all contributed $1 million each to the fund.

Trump's inaugural fund has raised a record $170 million, triple Joe Biden's fundraising efforts for his inauguration.

Wall Street's Dilemma

In contrast to Silicon Valley's embrace of Trump, Wall Street remains cautious. Most bank executives will attend Davos, while a few may make brief appearances in DC.

"They need international friends because they don't have many in this government," joked a Davos regular who is prioritizing Trump's inauguration.

Davos' Transformation

Davos' agenda has shifted slightly toward the center of the political spectrum. Greta Thunberg, a prominent climate activist, was absent last year, while panels focused more on technology and artificial intelligence.

Despite these changes, some question whether Davos will maintain its relevance among global leaders.

"The election showed that the Davos worldview is obsolete," commented a source close to Trump. "Populism is on the rise in trade, immigration, and security." The power dynamics have shifted, and the lure of Washington, DC is eclipsing the once-prestigious Davos summit.